Uchiha Kyu flung his robes aside with a laugh and sat decisively upon the Hokage's throne.
Enthusiastic cheers erupted from the front rows below. One bandaged Uchiha clansman after another, along with Hyuga ninjas, waved their flags and shouted for Uchiha Kyu.
Becoming Hokage had been the Uchiha Clan's long-cherished wish for many years, and now it had finally come true.
The older generation of the Uchiha Clan knew how hard-won this was, and they wept with joy.
To the younger generation, Uchiha Kyu was the invincible God of War in their hearts.
The Hyuga ninjas were simply happy because once Uchiha Kyu became Hokage, the Hyuga Clan would surely rise along with him due to their connection with him.
The ninjas from the other clans in the back wore forced smiles, though their hearts were more bitter than anyone else's.
But there was nothing they could do. They were the losers, captives who had surrendered at the Uchiha's feet.
Choji Akimichi, Inoichi Yamanaka, and the others had also forced themselves to attend the Hokage succession ceremony despite their injuries.
The jubilant scene ahead of them and their current feelings were worlds apart.
A young couple stood below the stage. Tears streamed endlessly from the woman's eyes. "Minato, it was all my fault that you lost the position of Hokage."
Minato Namikaze gently wiped away her tears.
"Kushina, what nonsense are you talking about? I lost to him. With or without you, I would have lost last night."
Kushina puffed out her cheeks and glared at the person onstage. "But... that was your dream ever since you were little."
"And now you're just giving it to that guy."
Minato Namikaze rubbed Kushina's fiery red hair, his face sunny and gentle.
"I was simply inferior to him. Perhaps he's more qualified than I am to become Hokage."
"I wanted to become Hokage so I could protect the village, not become Hokage for the position itself."
"Minato."
Kushina Uzumaki's eyes shimmered with tears of emotion.
Minato Namikaze looked at the high-spirited, arrogant Uchiha Kyu onstage and hoped that the village would become better in his hands.
Uchiha Kyu looked down at his clansmen and the Hyuga ninjas, then spoke loudly with boundless ambition.
"Everyone, I once promised that if we won, I would never enjoy this glory alone."
With his back to the crowd, Uchiha Kyu pointed behind him at the words "Fifth Hokage" embroidered on his Hokage robes.
"This glory belongs to all of you."
"Without you, I would not be standing here."
Uchiha Kyu slowly turned around to face the crowd, then swept out a hand.
"Next, I will reward everyone according to their merits and bestow this glory upon each and every one of you."
Uchiha Okamoto, his arm wrapped in bandages, excitedly raised his fist and shouted.
"Swear loyalty unto death to Lord Hokage!"
"Swear loyalty unto death to Lord Hokage!"
The others immediately erupted into an uproar, joining Uchiha Okamoto in shouting as they basked in this honor.
Even the usually calm Hizashi Hyuga was moved by Uchiha Kyu's magnanimity and raised his fist to shout along with the crowd.
Hyuga Hiashi had finally witnessed Uchiha Kyu's inspiring words for himself.
Standing some distance away, Orochimaru said to Tsunade beside him, "Kyu is the most interesting person I've ever met."
Tsunade absolutely refused to admit that Uchiha Kyu's words had moved her, putting on a disdainful expression.
"That's only for you. To me, he'll always be the murderer who killed my teacher."
Orochimaru chuckled teasingly. "But wasn't your teacher killed by Minato Namikaze's ninjutsu?"
Tsunade snorted coldly, unwilling to continue arguing over the matter.
Uchiha Kyu held a list and spoke into the microphone. "Orochimaru."
Even Tsunade froze, staring at Orochimaru with a strange look in her eyes.
"I didn't expect you to be called first. What a surprise."
"I'm surprised too."
Orochimaru shrugged and calmly walked toward the stage.
The crowd, following Uchiha Kyu's gaze as they turned around, unconsciously parted to make way for him.
After walking onto the stage, Orochimaru stood quietly before Uchiha Kyu.
Uchiha Kyu directly pulled Orochimaru to his side.
"Starting today, the village will establish a new Research Department, with Orochimaru serving as its director."
"At the same time, the director of the Research Department will have the authority to mobilize the Anbu and require cooperation from every other department."
"The Research Department's resource priority will be raised to the highest level."
Orochimaru stared at Uchiha Kyu in shock.
A newly established department, with the authority to mobilize the Anbu.
You really dare to delegate power.
However.
He liked this position. From now on, he could openly do what he wanted to do.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage."
Orochimaru dropped to one knee and sincerely thanked Uchiha Kyu for this great gift.
With that kneel, he had knelt into a bright future.
"This guy actually..."
Tsunade's pupils contracted. She had not expected even Orochimaru to willingly kneel at Uchiha Kyu's feet.
Hyuga Hiashi knew what Orochimaru did, but he had not expected Uchiha Kyu to possess such courage.
"He's putting the Research Department directly in the open. Is that really alright?"
Hyuga Hiashi had his doubts.
Uchiha Kyu personally helped Orochimaru to his feet.
"Get up. I never mistreat my own people. Follow me, and you'll get what you want."
For a while, Orochimaru could not calm his emotions.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi had never given him a department with real authority like this.
"Hyuga Hiashi."
Uchiha Kyu continued sharing this glory of his.
With Orochimaru's example before him, Hyuga Hiashi stepped onto the stage with excitement and respectfully lowered his head. "Lord Hokage."
Uchiha Kyu nodded at him and spoke loudly.
"You will retain your position as Hokage Advisor, disband the Root Organization under your command, concurrently serve as Director of the Medical Department, and be specially granted the authority to mobilize the Anbu."
Although his armed forces had been stripped away, Hyuga Hiashi felt that he had still come out ahead by also becoming Director of the Medical Department.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage."
Next, Uchiha Kyu appointed Fugaku Uchiha as captain of the Konoha Military Police Force.
As for the remaining people who had rendered merit, Uchiha Kyu arranged mid-level positions for all of them throughout the village.
The vacant positions were filled again, until every post was occupied.
These meritorious clansmen and Hyuga clansmen were all satisfied.
The smiles Inoichi Yamanaka and the others maintained were nearly frozen in place.
There was nothing for them. On the contrary, the positions being handed out had once all belonged to them.
That feeling of being stabbed in the heart right to their faces.
It hurt.
It hurt too much.
"Minato Namikaze."
After Uchiha Kyu spoke that name, everyone present turned to look at Minato Namikaze as if by prior agreement.
What was going on? Did this involve Minato Namikaze too?
Could Minato Namikaze's attack on Uchiha Kyu have been fake, with the real target being the Third Hokage?
The ones most suspicious of this were not clan heads like Inoichi Yamanaka, but Tsunade, who had originally trusted Minato Namikaze the most.
Even Fugaku Uchiha, Hyuga Hiashi, and Orochimaru were stunned.
Uchiha Kyu had not discussed the appointment documents in his hand with anyone.
If becoming Hokage did not mean ruling dictatorially, then what was the point of becoming Hokage?
Under Kushina Uzumaki's worried gaze, Minato Namikaze walked toward the stage step by step.
Uchiha Kyu began using Konoha to manipulate Minato Namikaze.
"Now that war continues at the front lines and the village stands amid turbulent winds and rain, this is precisely when the village needs capable people. I have always appointed people without fussing over trivial matters."
"I appoint you Director of the Anbu. Do not disappoint Konoha's trust in you. The burden is a little heavy, but everyone believes you can handle it."
"This is all for Konoha."
Minato Namikaze, who was most susceptible to this sort of thing, agreed without hesitation.
"Thank you for your trust, Lord Hokage."
After appointing Minato Namikaze, Uchiha Kyu arrived at the Hokage Office and sat in the seat of Konoha's highest authority.
With a turn of his head, Uchiha Kyu could see Hokage Rock in the distance outside the window. Those four heads were truly glaring.
"From now on, the village shouldn't bother with such empty formalities. Tear down the faces on Hokage Rock."
Uchiha Okamoto's eyes shifted. The clever man seemed to understand and voluntarily stepped forward.
"I'll handle it immediately."
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